Good results from the Cairngorm Race Weekend

Our roaming time trial racer, Jim Trevor, ventured 100 miles north of his base in Fife to the Scottish highlands to compete in the four-event Cairngorm CC Race Weekend

based in Aviemore, which we all know more as the Scottish ski resort location due to its snow-covered mountain.

Jim Trevor competed the race weekend in 2012 and saw this year’s event as a target for the 2013 late season.

The race weekend is always held in the first weekend of September, as the Scottish tourist season begins to ebb away leaving the roads more suitable for the racing still with a hope of reasonable temperatures and weather for racing.

The first event is the notorious Hill Climb from Aviemore Village to the Ski Station situated on the Cairngorm mountain. The event is 9 miles and climbs from 220m AOD to 650m AOD a total of 430m vertically. In 2012 Jim had finished in 28th place misjudging the technique required to ride a nine miles hill-climb. This year Jim finished a respectable 6th from the 57 strong field, but more importantly took the cash prize for the fastest veteran. In Scotland prizes are presented prior to the release of the results and involve the prize being presented by the organizer to the competitor. Jim proudly went onto the raised platform wearing the Hull Thursday colours to collect the prize. Below is a picture of the route map displayed in the event HQ.

Cairngorm Hill Climb Route

The second event was a Sporting Course 14 mile time trial around some very tricky highland roads. Last year due to lack of course knowledge as well as a lower level of form Jim finished 19th. Again, this year Jim finished a respectable 6th place only missing 5th by a narrow margin of 3 seconds. The 67 rider field was strong with the first three places being taken by 1st cat road racers one of whom is the National Veterans Road Race Champion.

The third event, held on the second day was an out and back ‘10’ TT held on the B9152 road from Kincraig to Kingussie with a dead turn in Kingussie. Again Jim finished in 6th place from the 86 starters with the top two places being taken with fresh legs as both the winner and second place had not ridden stages 1 and 2, the day previous. Jim was reported to be the fastest veteran on standard but this did not attract any prize. Jim was again a little frustrated as 6 second faster would have secured 4th place and the fastest veterans prize.

The fourth event was a handicap 26 mile road race. Jim was a victim of his own success as he was placed in the scratch group, interestingly being the only 4th cat in this group. The scratch group failed to catch the main bunch as younger riders pressed on the climb and dropped three of the strong veteran time triallists which resulted in the scratch group becoming weaker. Jim was able to push hard on the climbs and remained with the younger riders which resulted in a finish with the first section of the scratch group, but a poor placing.

It was a great weekend for Hull Thursday with Jim being the best placed rider overall of those competing in all the four events. It was also a good representation for the club as Hull Thursday was the only English club being represented in the whole of the weekend.

We also got some publicity on the British Cycling website as reports of the races were headlined. See links below.